Techniques for timing optimization in wireless networks that utilize a universal services interface

ABSTRACT

An embodiment of the present invention provides a mobile station to communicate with an application service provider (ASP) in a wireless network using a Universal Services Interface (USI) comprising, memory, one or more processors and a transceiver, to store some or all USI context as required by the ASP and wherein when a user accesses the ASP, the USI client inserts relevant USI context as part of an ASP request message and in order to fetch the USI context of the MS, a USI proxy sends the USI context request to a USI server and the USI server sends a USI context response back to the USI proxy which contains the USI context for the MS.

RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.11/745,557, entitled “TECHNIQUES FOR TIMING OPTIMIZATION IN WIRELESSNETWORKS THAT UTILIZE A UNIVERSAL SERVICES INTERFACE,” filed May 8,2007.

BACKGROUND

There is ongoing interest in developing and deploying mobile networksthat may facilitate transfer of information at broadband bandwidth andrates. These networks are colloquially referred to herein as broadbandwireless access (BWA) networks and may include networks operating inconformance with one or more protocols specified by the 3rd GenerationPartnership Project (3GPP) and its derivatives or the Institute forElectrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE) 802.16 standards (e.g., IEEE802.16-2005) although the embodiments discussed herein are notnecessarily so limited. IEEE 802.16 compliant BWA networks are sometimesreferred to as WiMAX networks, an acronym that stands for WorldwideInteroperability for Microwave Access, which is a certification mark forproducts that pass conformity and interoperability tests for the IEEE802.16 standards

Service providers have been looking for a technology that enablesconvergence of the service layer, such that value-add services, whichcan be easily deployed. To fill this gap, the mobile industry (morespecifically the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP)) has createda comprehensive all-IP network named Internet Protocol (IP) MultimediaSubsystem (IMS). The promise of convergence by IMS is being weighedagainst its complexity both on the network side and the client deviceside. This has led the industry to question suitability of IMS as aconvergence technology of choice.

The deployment and implementation of WiMAX networks, there are ongoingquestions on how to best integrate cooperation between service providers(SPs), which are the providers that operate network infrastructure andprovide wireless access to subscribers, and Internet Application Serviceproviders (IASPs) (e.g., GOOGLE®, YAHOO®, etc.), which are providersthat offer aggregated content on the public Internet Protocol (IP)networks including content providers (CPs) and/or Internet advertisers(IAs).

When the user uses some application other than the regular web-browserto access the internet (for example, the user uses Google desktop tosearch the internet instead of firing the browser), the timeline forproviding value add service by the ASP based on USI “shrinks”. USI mayrely on the fact that the ASP can “pre-fetch” the information about theuser from the USI server in the WiMAX operator's network, between thetime the user goes to Google.com on his web browser for example and thetime he sends the search query; so that by the time the query hitsGoogle.com, the Google server can now use the pre-fetched information informulating the results.

This is however not possible if the user enters the search query withoutgoing to Google.com first; say by means of Google desktop application onhis PC. In such a case, there needs to be a fast way for the Googleserver to know the characteristics of the user without having to go tothe USI server and fetch this information, in order to provide the samelevel of valued add service as in the previous case.

Thus, a strong need exists for techniques for timing optimization inwireless networks utilizing a universal services interface.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The subject matter regarded as the invention is particularly pointed outand distinctly claimed in the concluding portion of the specification.The invention, however, both as to organization and method of operation,together with objects, features, and advantages thereof, may best beunderstood by reference to the following detailed description when readwith the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is functional block diagram of a network architecture accordingto various inventive embodiments of the present invention;

FIG. 2 illustrates basic USI timing assuming user accesses the ASP froma web-browser;

FIG. 3 illustrates a USI client solution for timing optimization in thescenario that the user accesses the ASP from a non-browser ASPspecialized application in accordance with an embodiment of theinvention;

FIG. 4 shows a USI proxy solution for timing optimization in thescenario that the user accesses the ASP from a non-browser ASPspecialized application in accordance with an embodiment of theinvention

FIG. 5 is system according in accordance with an embodiment of thepresent invention.

It will be appreciated that for simplicity and clarity of illustration,elements illustrated in the figures have not necessarily been drawn toscale. For example, the dimensions of some of the elements areexaggerated relative to other elements for clarity. Further, whereconsidered appropriate, reference numerals have been repeated among thefigures to indicate corresponding or analogous elements.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the following detailed description, numerous specific details are setforth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the invention.However, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that thepresent invention may be practiced without these specific details. Inother instances, well-known methods, procedures, components and circuitshave not been described in detail so as not to obscure the presentinvention.

In the following detailed description, numerous specific details are setforth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the invention.However, it will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the artthat the invention may be practiced without these specific details. Inother instances, well-known methods, procedures, components, unitsand/or circuits have not been described in detail so as not to obscurethe invention.

Embodiments of the invention may be used in a variety of applications.Some embodiments of the invention may be used in conjunction withvarious devices and systems, for example, a transmitter, a receiver, atransceiver, a transmitter-receiver, a wireless communication station, awireless communication device, a wireless Access Point (AP), a modem, awireless modem, a Personal Computer (PC), a desktop computer, a mobilecomputer, a laptop computer, a notebook computer, a tablet computer, aserver computer, a handheld computer, a handheld device, a PersonalDigital Assistant (PDA) device, a handheld PDA device, a network, awireless network, a Local Area Network (LAN), a Wireless LAN (WLAN), aMetropolitan Area Network (MAN), a Wireless MAN (WMAN), a Wide AreaNetwork (WAN), a Wireless WAN (WWAN), devices and/or networks operatingin accordance with existing IEEE 802.11, 802.11a, 802.11b, 802.11e,802.11g, 802.11 h, 802.11i, 802.11n, 802.16, 802.16d, 802.16e standardsand/or future versions and/or derivatives and/or Long Term Evolution(LTE) of the above standards, a Personal Area Network (PAN), a WirelessPAN (WPAN), units and/or devices which are part of the above WLAN and/orPAN and/or WPAN networks, one way and/or two-way radio communicationsystems, cellular radio-telephone communication systems, a cellulartelephone, a wireless telephone, a Personal Communication Systems (PCS)device, a PDA device which incorporates a wireless communication device,a Multiple Input Multiple Output (MIMO) transceiver or device, a SingleInput Multiple Output (SIMO) transceiver or device, a Multiple InputSingle Output (MISO) transceiver or device, a Multi Receiver Chain (MRC)transceiver or device, a transceiver or device having “smart antenna”technology or multiple antenna technology, or the like. Some embodimentsof the invention may be used in conjunction with one or more types ofwireless communication signals and/or systems, for example, RadioFrequency (RF), Infra Red (IR), Frequency-Division Multiplexing (FDM),Orthogonal FDM (OFDM), Time-Division Multiplexing (TDM), Time-DivisionMultiple Access (TDMA), Extended TDMA (E-TDMA), General Packet RadioService (GPRS), Extended GPRS, Code- Division Multiple Access (CDMA),Wideband CDMA (WCDMA), CDMA 2000, Multi-Carrier Modulation (MDM),Discrete Multi-Tone (DMT), Bluetooth (RTM), ZigBee (TM), or the like.Embodiments of the invention may be used in various other apparatuses,devices, systems and/or networks.

Although embodiments of the invention are not limited in this regard,discussions utilizing terms such as, for example, “processing,”“computing,” “calculating,” “determining,” “establishing”, “analyzing”,“checking”, or the like, may refer to operation(s) and/or process(es) ofa computer, a computing platform, a computing system, or otherelectronic computing device, that manipulate and/or transform datarepresented as physical (e.g., electronic) quantities within thecomputer's registers and/or memories into other data similarlyrepresented as physical quantities within the computer's registersand/or memories or other information storage medium that may storeinstructions to perform operations and/or processes.

Although embodiments of the invention are not limited in this regard,the terms “plurality” and “a plurality” as used herein may include, forexample, “multiple” or “two or more”. The terms “plurality” or “aplurality” may be used throughout the specification to describe two ormore components, devices, elements, units, parameters, or the like. Forexample, “a plurality of stations” may include two or more stations.

There are two general models which are generally known to provideintegration between SPs and IASPs including: (i) the old cellular or“walled garden” model in which content is provided entirely through SP'scontrol environments; and (ii) the open model in which content isprovided by IASP transparently via the SP.

The walled garden model had advantages for the SP in that it had fullcontrol on content accessed by the user. However the limited contenttypically provided by the SPs was incomparable with those of Internet,and thus failed to attract widespread user interest.

The open model is attractive to users because it may provide nearlyunlimited content. However, because the SP is transparent totransactions in this model, there is no revenue opportunity for the SPbeyond access usage. Furthermore, because mobile station location is notknown by the IASPs, without some input from SPs, there are limits onenhanced services which may be provided.

A recent model of content solutions for wireless broadband networks isdefined in which improved content may be provided by IASPs with the SP'sassistance. This model is referred to herein as the universal servicesinterface (USI) model or Internet+ model. The USI model proposed hereinis beneficial to users, IASPs and SPs in that users may obtain a widervariety of content than previously available, SPs can benefit fromadditional revenue sharing, and IASPs can offer better, more convenient,and/or smarter services to users.

Turning to FIG. 1, an example network architecture 100 for implementingthe USI model is shown. According to one exemplary implementation, amobile station (MS) 105, for example subscriber stations using protocolscompatible with the IEEE 802.16 standards (e.g., IEEE 802.16-2005Amendment), may communicate via an over-the-air (OTA) interface with abase station (BS) 110 to connect with a connectivity service network(CSN) 115 operated by a service provider.

In certain example implementations, communications between subscribersvia BS 110 to CSN 115 may be facilitated via one or more access servicenetwork gateways (ASNGW) 120 although the inventive embodiments are notlimited to this specific type of network implementation. ASNGW 120 (orother similar type of network node) acts as an interface between corenetwork 115 and a plurality of base stations 110 and may function as atype of BS controller and/or mobile switching center (MSC) to facilitatehandover control and other functions for a radio access network (RAN),although the embodiments are not so limited.

Connectivity service network (CSN) 115, in certain example embodiments,may include a home agent (HA) 117 (or similar type of network node) anda new type of network node referred to herein as a USI Server 118 whichacts as a gateway for the interaction with the application serviceprovider (IASP) 130 such as GOOGLE®, etc. Home agent 117 may serve as aseamless Internet Protocol (IP) traffic hub to connect mobile stations(e.g., MS 105) with other non-service provider networks or entities suchas a public Internet network 140, a public switched telephone network(PSTN) 150 and/or IASP 130. In actuality, IASP 130 may be part ofInternet network 140 but is shown separately in FIG. 1 to highlightvarious interactions with the service provider's CSN 115. If desired, amedia gateway (MGW) node 151 may be used to convert circuit-switchedcommunications to IP communications or vice versa between home agent 117and PSTN 150 although the inventive embodiments are not limited in thisrespect.

According to certain embodiments, an accounting server 160 and/orsubscriber depository database 170 may also be included in network 100.Accounting server 160 may be coupled with service provider's CSN 115 toauthenticate/track user subscriptions (e.g., to track user charges)while database 170 may be used to store customer profiles and/orpersonal data and preferences of subscribers (e.g., to identify usersand authorized services). In certain embodiments, server 160 anddatabase 170 may be combine in a single node. To this end, thedescription and illustration of network 100 represents logical entitiesand thus arrangements of certain entities could be combined with othersor separated from one another according to network design preferenceand/or physical constraints.

According to the example network architecture in FIG. 1, the key logicalinterfaces for network 100 are as follows:

U2 interface: between the IASP 130 and the USI server 118;

U3 interface; between the ASN 120 and the USI server 118; and

U4 interface; an optional interface between HA 117 and the USI server118.

USI Server 118 may also have interfaces U6 to accounting server 160 andU5 to subscriber depository DB 170 for content charging records and/orservice authorization and user privilege.

According to certain inventive embodiments the U2 interface between IASP130 and USI server 118 may be used primarily for user identification(e.g., user of mobile station 105) as well as any other interactiondescribed herein between the service provider network and the IASP 130.

The U3 interface between USI server 118 and ASNGW 120 is a signaling andhotlining interface which in certain embodiments may support functionsfor location services, presence, provisioning, etc.

Location services: upon the association of MS 105 with a new servinggateway (SGW) (e.g., anchor paging controller (APC) or ASN-GW 120),either via inter-ASN handover or anchor PC relocation, the new SGWhandshakes with USI server 118 via U3 to inform the change in the SGWfor MS 105. When accurate location of MS 105 is requested by a contentprovider (e.g., IASP 130), USI 118 may contact the SGW to begin locationmeasurements.

Presence: when MS 105 performs network entry/exit or idle modeentry/exit, in a particular ASN-GW, the GW handshakes with USI server118 via U3 to convey presence (or lack thereof) information.

Provisioning: if USI server 118 also functions as a provisioning server,U3 can be used for signaling of provisioning operations (e.g.,Provisioning start, Provisioning complete, etc.). Additionally, MS 105can be hot-lined to USI server 118 via U3 until provisioning iscomplete.

In certain embodiments, an optional U4 interface may be used forquality-of-service (QoS) signaling between home agent 117 and USI 118for managed QoS services like IP television (IPTV). In otherembodiments, U4 is omitted and the foregoing signaling may be conveyeddirectly to ASN-GW 120 via the U3 interface.

Embodiments of the present invention provide extensions to the USIconcept that addresses timing issues. As shown in FIG. 2, generally at200, when a mobile station (MS) 205 user uses an application other thanthe regular web-browser to access the Internet (for example, the useruses Google desktop to search the internet instead the browser), thetimeline for providing value add service by the ASP based on USI“shrinks”.

Prior to embodiments of the present invention, a user of a MS 205 may govia google.com 225 to ASP 215. ASP 215 then sends USI context request235 and USI context response 240 back to USI server 210. USI server 210then sends USI context response to ASP at 240. At 255 MS 205 sends ASPrequest 255 to ASP 215 with USI enhanced ASP response 260 from ASP 215back to MS 205. 250 depicts the response time from ASP=T and 220illustrates time interval between aUser firing up the web page and theuser making a request.

Thus, USI basically relies on the fact that the ASP 215 can “pre-fetch”the information 245 about the user from the USI server 210 in the WiMAXoperator's network, between the time the user goes to google.com 225 onhis web browser for example, and the time he sends the search query; sothat by the time the query hits google.com, the Google server 225 cannow use the pre-fetched information in formulating the results. 230depicts performing network identification based on MS IP and port info.It is understood that google.com is merely one illustrative example andthe present invention is not limited to any particular ASP.

This is however not possible if the user enters the search query withoutgoing to google.com first, say by means of Google desktop application onhis PC. In such a case, there needs to be a fast way for the Googleserver to know the characteristics of the user without having to go tothe USI server and fetch this information, in order to provide the samelevel of valued add service as in the previous case.

An embodiment of the present invention addresses the timing issue setforth above. As set forth in FIG. 3, generally at 300, is a solutionwith a USI client in the user device such as mobile station 305. The USIclient for example may be bundled with an ASP application like

Google desktop 315, although the present invention is not limited inthis respect. The USI client basically:

a) Stores some or all of USI context as required by the ASP 315. Forexample the device could store its current location information, serviceinformation, device information, QoS information etc.

b) Monitors the IP addresses on the user device. In the event that theuser enters a VPN, it caches the external IP address of the VPN tunnel.

When the user accesses the ASP 315 using something other than aweb-browser, the USI client 305 inserts the relevant USI context as partof the ASP request message 325. This way the ASP 315 now has the USIenhanced request 325 from the user and can provide a USI enhancedresponse 335 back to the user and does not have to spend extra time onfetching the USI context from the USI server 310. 330 shows the responsetime from ASP=T.

Turning now to FIG. 4 at 400 is an illustration of a USI proxy in thenetwork. In this scenario, a USI proxy 415 may be in the network insteadof or in addition to the USI client in the device, such as mobilestation 405. The USI proxy 415 in the network may or may not becollocated with the USI server 410. The USI proxy 415 is in the line ofthe data path from the user to the ASP 420 and performs stateful contentinspection 430 of all the packets passing through it. When the USI proxy415 intercepts an ASP request 425 message on HTTP/XML, it basicallyappends the USI context to this message if not already present in themessage; in order to fetch the USI context of the MS, the USI proxysends the USI context request 435 to USI server 410; the USI serversends USI context response 440 back to USI proxy 415 which contains theUSI context for the MS. This way, the ASP now has the USI enhancedrequest 445 and does not have to spend extra time on fetching the USIcontext from the USI server and may send USI enhanced ASP response 450to MS 405.

Some embodiments of the invention may be implemented by software, byhardware, or by any combination of software and/or hardware as may besuitable for specific applications or in accordance with specific designrequirements. Embodiments of the invention may include units and/orsub-units, which may be separate of each other or combined together, inwhole or in part, and may be implemented using specific, multi-purposeor general processors or controllers, or devices as are known in theart. Some embodiments of the invention may include buffers, registers,stacks, storage units and/or memory units, for temporary or long-termstorage of data or in order to facilitate the operation of a specificembodiment.

Some embodiments of the invention may be implemented, for example, usinga machine-readable medium or article which may store an instruction or aset of instructions that, if executed by a machine, for example, bysystem 500 of FIG. 5, by mobile station 505 of FIG. 5 which may includea processor (not shown) and antenna 515, or by other suitable machines,cause the machine to perform a method and/or operations in accordancewith embodiments of the invention. Mobile station 505 may be incommunication with base station 310. Such machine may include, forexample, any suitable processing platform, computing platform, computingdevice, processing device, computing system, processing system,computer, processor, or the like, and may be implemented using anysuitable combination of hardware and/or software. The machine-readablemedium or article may include, for example, any suitable type of memoryunit, memory device, memory article, memory medium, storage device,storage article, storage medium and/or storage unit, for example,memory, removable or non-removable media, erasable or non-erasablemedia, writeable or re-writeable media, digital or analog media, harddisk, floppy disk, Compact Disk Read Only Memory (CD-ROM), Compact DiskRecordable (CD-R), Compact Disk Re-Writeable (CD-RW), optical disk,magnetic media, various types of Digital Versatile Disks (DVDs), a tape,a cassette, or the like. The instructions may include any suitable typeof code, for example, source code, compiled code, interpreted code,executable code, static code, dynamic code, or the like, and may beimplemented using any suitable high-level, low-level, object-oriented,visual, compiled and/or interpreted programming language, e.g., C, C++,Java, BASIC, Pascal, Fortran, Cobol, assembly language, machine code, orthe like.

While certain features of the invention have been illustrated anddescribed herein, many modifications, substitutions, changes, andequivalents may occur to those skilled in the art. It is, therefore, tobe understood that the appended claims are intended to cover all suchmodifications and changes as fall within the true spirit of theinvention.

1. A mobile station to communicate with an application service provider(ASP) in a wireless network using a Universal Services Interface (USI)comprising: memory, one or more processors and a transceiver to: storesome or all USI context as required by said ASP and wherein when a useraccesses said ASP, said USI client inserts relevant USI context as partof an ASP request message and in order to fetch said USI context of saidMS, a USI proxy sends said USI context request to a USI server and saidUSI server sends a USI context response back to said USI proxy whichcontains said USI context for said MS.
 2. The mobile station of claim 1,wherein said ASP request is bundled by using XML.
 3. The mobile stationof claim 1, wherein said USI context comprises said MS's currentlocation information and/or quality of service (QoS).
 4. A method forexecution by one or more processors in a mobile station of communicatingwith an application service provider (ASP) in a wireless network using aUniversal Services Interface (USI) comprising, comprising: adapting saidUSI client adapted to store some or all USI context as required by saidASP and wherein when a user accesses said ASP, said USI client insertsrelevant USI context as part of an ASP request message and in order tofetch said USI context of said MS, a USI proxy sends said USI contextrequest to a USI server and said USI server sends a USI context responseback to said USI proxy which contains said USI context for said MS. 5.The apparatus of claim 4, wherein said ASP request is bundled by usingXML.
 6. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein said USI context comprisessaid MS's current location information and/or quality of service (QoS).7. An apparatus, comprising: a mobile station (MS) operable tocommunicate with an application service provider (ASP) in a wirelessnetwork, said wireless network including a Universal Services Interface(USI); and wherein said MS includes a USI client adapted to store someor all USI context as required by said ASP and wherein when a useraccesses said ASP, said USI client inserts relevant USI context as partof an ASP request message and in order to fetch said USI context of saidMS, a USI proxy sends said USI context request to a USI server and saidUSI server sends a USI context response back to said USI proxy whichcontains said USI context for said MS.
 8. The apparatus of claim 7,wherein said ASP request is bundled by using XML.
 9. The apparatus ofclaim 7, wherein said USI context comprises said MS's current locationinformation and/or quality of service (QoS).
 10. A machine-accessiblenon-transitory medium that provides instructions, which when accessed,cause a machine to perform operations comprising: communicating with anapplication service provider (ASP) in a wireless network by a mobilestation (MS), said wireless network including a Universal ServicesInterface (USI); and including in said MS a USI client adapted to storesome or all USI context as required by said ASP and wherein when a useraccesses said ASP, said USI client inserts relevant USI context as partof an ASP request message and in order to fetch said USI context of saidMS, a USI proxy sends said USI context request to a USI server and saidUSI server sends a USI context response back to said USI proxy whichcontains said USI context for said MS.
 11. The machine-accessible mediumof claim 10, further comprising said instructions causing said machineto perform operations further comprising bundling said ASP request byusing XML.
 12. The machine-accessible medium of claim 10, wherein saidUSI context comprises said MS's current location information and/orquality of service (QoS).